New topic: New name, time for some syntax changes?
<http://forums.realsoftware.com/viewtopic.php?t=47693> Page 1 of 1 [ 7 posts ] Previous topic | Next topic Author Message timhare Post subject: New name, time for some syntax changes?Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:06 pm Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 3:21 pm Posts: 12262 Location: Portland, OR USA I have been opposed to syntax changes in the past, especially importing C-isms into the language. But one thing I WOULD like to see is this: Allow an optional semicolon at the end of a line of code. On the one hand, that would ease the transition from other languages that require a trailing semicolon. On the other hand, it would allow for this: Allow multiple statements on a line. This would allow us to conserve vertical space. I would find it especially useful when initializing variables. X = 1 Y = 5 Z = 7 Could become X = 1; Y = 5; Z = 7; What do y'all think? Have I become a heretic? Tim Top languer Post subject: Re: New name, time for some syntax changes?Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:41 pm Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:59 pm Posts: 66 Location: Arizona, USA One vote for you. Everything else is changing, that tiny bit wouldn't hurt. It actually makes it more productive. _________________ Windows XP SP3 RS 2012r2 Top Jason_Adams Post subject: Re: New name, time for some syntax changes?Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:44 pm Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:10 pm Posts: 1794 Location: Michigan, USA You know, I've used a number of languages (C, Pascal, SQL, etc.) that use the semicolon to separate commands, but I hardly ever used it to squeeze more code onto a single line. I just rarely find myself wishing this was possible outside of situations where it is: If Foo Then Bar = 1 Else Bar = 2 Where I did enjoy semicolons was in massive commands that spanned multiple lines (especially in SQL): select avg(numcolumn) as num_avg string_agg(textcolumn, ',') as text_csv FROM sometable ORDER BY id_col1 id_col2; You can do this in RS (now Xojo), but have to use the underscore, and lose the ability to organize with tabs. But that's the whole point: If you don't know what you're looking for, a semicolon can be confusing, hard to find, and easy to forget. It also takes away from the simple, visual presentation of the editor. For my use, semicolons would have to be required and the whole auto-tabbing system removed. I'm happy with it as is. Sorry, Tim, I guess I think you're a heretic. _________________ Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Windows XP Pro SP3 Ubuntu 11.04 via Virtual Box RS Enterprise 2012r1.1 Programming Tutorials & Free Projects: http://www.JasonTheAdams.com "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried." - G.K. Chesterton Top mbierly Post subject: Re: New name, time for some syntax changes?Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:49 pm Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:25 pm Posts: 11 Location: Warfordsburg, PA Yep. Definitely a heretic. I've used Pascal/Delphi for a long, long time and don't miss the semicolons one bit! _________________ Regards, Mike B. Top markwalsh Post subject: Re: New name, time for some syntax changes?Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:02 pm Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 4:43 pm Posts: 954 timhare wrote:What do y'all think? Have I become a heretic? Coming from anyone but you, I would have expected the responses to be 'This has been covered before', 'Real Basic/Studio/Xojo is not [other programming language]', etc. Personally, I often prefer vertical space to jamming things into a single line, even when there are single line alternatives. Back in my VBA days, I would format my function calls with each parameter on a separate line for clarity. And, I never was a fan of Javascript's Quote:var x = (value=== "Green") ? "Go" : "Stop"; I'd rather use the following, as I find it easier to read: Quote:If (value == "Green") { x = "Go" } else { x = "Stop" } But, it wouldn't matter to me if it was part of the language, I just wouln't use it much, if at all, myself. Just as long as we're not required to end each line that way (I have gotten in the habit of doing so in Javascript, but I often find myself missing a few every now and then.) _________________ RB 2009r4 Windows XP Top Paul Lefebvre Post subject: Re: New name, time for some syntax changes?Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 10:17 am Site Admin Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:35 am Posts: 971 Location: South Portland, Maine timhare wrote:What do y'all think? Have I become a heretic? Yes. _________________ Paul Lefebvre Developer Evangelist Real Software, Inc. The Real Studio Developer Conference is back: April 23rd-26th, 2013 in Orlando, FL. Top Markus Winter Post subject: Re: New name, time for some syntax changes?Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:04 am Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2006 4:00 pm Posts: 1262 Location: Heidelberg, Germany timhare wrote:What do y'all think? Have I become a heretic? Burn him! 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